HIPS plastic for 3D printers

HIPS

— HIPS plastic is somewhere between ABS and PLA. This material combines good strength and ease of post-processing. HIPS can be puttied and painted and can be easily machined. This type of plastic is non-degradable, which makes products printed on a 3D printer reliable and durable. The material is not afraid of moisture, can be in the open air for a long time. HIPS is a mixture of polybutadiene and polystyrene. The presence of polybutadiene in the composition of the material gives the plastic the elasticity of rubber. The melting point is in the range of 230-260 °C. The material does not exhibit toxic properties, which allows it to be used even in the production of food utensils and packaging. HIPS dissolves easily in limonene, which is why this type of plastic is often paired with ABS. Support structures are built from HIPS, and then the whole product is treated with limonene. The HIPS supports will dissolve, and the ABS piece will remain intact.